A rundown of Hampton campaign finances

By Robert Brauchle

As the full flare of Hampton’s political season begins to shine this spring, I thought it might be a good time to look at some of the money being passed around to help the candidates running in the City Council and mayoral elections. Among the myriad active political action and candidate campaign committees found on the Virginia Public Access Project’s website, I found a few gems I’d like to share: * Hugh Bassette referred to himself at a forum last Wednesday as “the poor candidate” because of his self-described inability to raise funds as well as some of his better-healed opponents. <strong>Bassette for Hampton City Council</strong> had just $25 to its coffers, so that support’s his claim of poverty. It should be noted the $25 was a Jan. 3 loan that came from none other than the candidate himself. * Democratic Party– Hampton, Va., received money from a pair of candidates appearing on the May 1 ballot. Mayor Molly Joseph Ward contributed $250 on May 17, 2011 to the committee. Vice Mayor George Wallace gave $295 to the committee in separate donations, the most recent being on May 27, 2011. Oddly enough, VPAP’s website does not list a single donation from the committee to City Council or mayoral candidates this season. The group reported having $8,380 in hand on Dec. 31, so it has the ability to move some money is it feels the need to.* Hampton Watch has remained financially inactive this political season, according to VPAP’s website. The group did donate $654 to Wallace in 2008 during his run for City Council. Future finance disclosure reports may tell a better story about the group’s involvement in this year’s races. The group reported having $22 in hand on Dec. 31. William Smith and Gaylene Kanoyton are registered to the group. * Hampton Open Government PAC was born on Nov. 30 of last year and it looks like Eddie Deerfield, of the Buckroe Improvement League, is its creator. The group had $3,377 in hand on Dec. 31. That’s after receiving a $5,000 donation from “Merrimac Apartments” and $500 from Joan Charles, both of Hampton. The group then lists $2,122 in itemized expenses, although it wasn’t clear where that money ended up going. * Hobbs For Hampton City Council by name alone appears to support William “Billy” Hobbs, although no meaningful paperwork has been filed to determine how much the group has raised or spent. * Hogan For Hampton City Council similarly appears to support former television reporter turned City Council candidate Kurt Hogan. No financial information was available at the time of writing this entry. * VA Peninsula Chamber of Commerce remains an active committee and reportedly had $1,150 in hand on Dec. 31. No donations to candidates are listed on VPAP’s website. * Republican Party – Hampton, Va. has not submitted paperwork to the state since 2005. Oddly enough, the committee lists its registered address as 22 Lincoln St., which is City Hall. I’m still new to the state’s finance laws, but I’m pretty sure political groups are supposed to stay outside of City Hall’s doors. Also, in 2005, the committee donated $1,000 to Tom Gear’s campaign for Delegate. He’s now running for City Council. * Theresa Vanasse Schmidt is running for Hampton City Council. In previous years she has also unsuccessfully attempted to take a Delegate seat, so she has two active committees in her name. Schmidt for Delegate had $355 in hand on Feb. 25, 2011. Oddly enough, this committee took in a $2,000 contribution from the Gear for Delegate committee in January 2011. Tom Gear announced in late March he would run for City Council, so I’m sure he wouldn’t mind having that money back. * Schmidt for Hampton City Council is also an active committee, although it has not submitted an financial reports to the state, according to VPAP. * Sellers for Hampton City Council was created by City Council candidate Theresa Sellers. The group has $4 in hand on Dec. 31, 2010, the last time paperwork was submitted to the state, according to VPAP. * Snead for Hampton City Council had $2,242 in hand on Dec. 31, 2011. The group formed by Hampton City Council candidate Chris Snead received donations from the Boo Williams Sportsplex, Hampton Treasurer Robert S. Williams, Family Redirection Institute Inc., and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.On to the mayoral race: * Tuck for Mayor had $784 in hand on Dec. 31. This is Councilman Donnie Tuck’s first attempt at the mayor’s seat after spending two years on the City Council. The committee received a $500 donation in December from Ocean Properties, of Virginia Beach. Tuck’s held quite a few fundraisers this year, so expect his donation list to increase in the next financial disclosure report. * Together Fort Hampton was formed March 7, and lists its purpose as opposing Tuck as a candidate for mayor. The group has not filed any financial reports and lists its treasurer as Adam Tyler Jordan. Interestingly enough, VPAP lists Jordan as receiving $2,395 in 2011 from Del. Mike Watson, R-James City, for political consulting and events/catering. * Va Leadership Inc. is a Hampton-based committee that has contributed to the campaigns of Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike. Most recently the group donated $500 to Molly Ward in December 2011. It also donated to Councilman Christ Stuart’s City Council campaign in 2010. The committee reported having $8,822 in hand on Dec. 31, so expect it to remain active this spring. * Ward for Mayor of Hampton took in $4,000 in 2011 and reported having in excess of $30,000 at the end of 2011. The committee received separate $1,000 donations during that period from Susan Bentley Joseph, Patten Wornom Hatten & Diamonstein and Pomoco Group Inc. This is the end of Molly Ward’s freshman year as mayor and she is being challenged by Donnie Tuck. I’ll keep an eye on campaign finance reports and update them when better information becomes available.